Close control cooling for server rooms and data halls
Server rooms and comms cupboards produce heat around the clock, and if the cooling stops the equipment will shut itself down or fail. We install, service and repair floor-standing close control units in server rooms and data halls, and the smaller systems that cool comms rooms, across Greater Manchester and Yorkshire, and further afield by arrangement. We keep the room at the temperature and humidity your IT equipment needs, and look for problems before they take anything offline.
How close control differs from comfort cooling
Office air conditioning is built to keep people comfortable during working hours. A server room needs cooling all day and night, the load is almost all dry heat from the equipment, and humidity matters too: too dry and you risk static, too damp and you risk condensation.
Close control units are designed for that job, holding temperature and humidity within tight limits. In larger rooms they're floor-standing cabinets, often installed in a row along one wall or a service corridor so engineers can work on them without going onto the data floor. Some smaller comms rooms use wall-mounted split units instead, which can work if they're sized and set up for continuous running. We look after both.
Why downtime costs more here
When an office unit fails, people get warm. When a server room unit fails, the room can heat up quickly, and servers, switches and storage will start throttling or shutting down. That can take phones, tills, email or production systems down with them.
That's why we put the emphasis on servicing. Clean filters and coils, checked refrigerant levels and tested alarms are far cheaper than a rushed repair while the IT team watches temperatures climb.
Installation, servicing and repairs
New units go in with the room's heat load, airflow and access worked out first, so each one can be serviced or swapped later without moving the others.
On a service we check airflow, temperatures, humidity control, refrigerant, condensate drains, electrical connections and alarm outputs. If you have two units running as duty and standby, we check that changeover actually works. Each visit ends with a written report emailed to you with readings, checks and photos, which you can hand to your IT or facilities team.
Questions we get asked
Can I use normal air conditioning in a server room?
For a small comms room, a split system set up for continuous running can be enough. Larger rooms or ones with tight humidity requirements are better served by a close control unit, and we can advise on what you have.
How often should server room cooling be serviced?
Because it runs constantly, we'd recommend at least twice a year. Rooms in dusty environments or with only one cooling unit benefit from more frequent checks.
Do you work on units you didn't install?
Yes. We service and repair server room cooling whoever fitted it.
Should a server room have a backup cooling unit?
If the equipment in the room can't be allowed to go down, a second unit running as standby is worth considering. Whether it's justified depends on the heat load and how much downtime the business can tolerate.
